Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, August 6

 

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State denies insurer Farm Bureau’s proposed rate hike

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation on Tuesday denied a June 20 rate hike request by Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies subsidiaries Farm Bureau General and Farm Bureau Casualty.

State refuses Florida Farm Bureau insurance rate increase: What’s next?

Florida Farm Bureau is contemplating its next move now that the Office of Insurance Regulation has rejected the company’s request to raise its property-insurance rates.

Hurricane season’s early activity has 2 forecasters upping their predictions

Florida has so far been spared from being hit in an active early hurricane season.

But as the season peaks over the next 10 weeks, the conditions that fueled the early-season storms could mean Florida and other coastal areas will be threatened by more hurricanes than experts earlier predicted.

Hurricane-proof disaster recovery center to open in Jacksonville

A new disaster recovery center with the ability to withstand a Category 5 hurricane will open in Jacksonville in mid-September.

OPINION:  Closed shutters ugly, but better than storm damage

Port St. Lucie recently passed ordinance 08-58 that allows non-occupied structures to be protected with closed storm shutters during the storm season (June 1 to Nov. 30). Many residents in homeowner association (HOA)-governed communities head north for all or some portion of the storm season. Most of these home owners are not permitted to close or install storm shutters before they leave. This is because their HOA rules have placed restrictions on when they can be used.

EDITORIAL:  Crist’s Health Insurance Plan Falling Apart Before It Starts

Cover Florida, a new low-cost health insurance plan Gov. Charlie Crist says will address the problem of the uninsured, looks like a dud before it gets out of the gate.

Governor May Tap Reserves

Florida’s continuing economic woes could soon prompt Gov. Charlie Crist to dip into either the state’s post-hurricane recovery fund or its health care endowment to pay for state operations this year. Since March, when state economists issued their last revenue estimate, monthly collections have been down $100-million each month, according to June revenue reports. Early reports suggest July will be no different.

Crist aide had barred support for a tax hike

Gov. Charlie Crist’s newfound support for a property tax cut on the November ballot clashes with a pledge his office made to constituents just six months ago.

Crist pitches new property-tax amendment to voters in ‘state of distrust’

Chris and Debbie Oerly never expected to save much from the Amendment 1 property-tax plan voters passed overwhelmingly in January — but they didn’t expect to be hurt.

Judge hears Fla. planning amendment case

The legal battle over a proposed Florida constitutional amendment on growth management is going before a federal judge in West Palm Beach.

Candidates to debate for State Senate and House

Candidates for a state Senate seat and three House seats will square off in debates aired on SNN News 6 from 7 to 8:30 tonight.

EDITORIAL: The race to succeed Rep. Weldon isn’t a forgone conclusion

More surprising than seven-term Rep. Dave Weldon’s decision to leave Congress are the plainly visible cracks in the conventional wisdom concerning his successor.

Republican state Sen. Bill Posey no longer appears, hands-down, the most qualified candidate to take Mr. Weldon’s place among the candidates contesting the sprawling 15th district.

State House District 81 to have Democratic primary

For the first time since the seat was created in 1992 there will be a Democrat primary for state House District 81.

Adam Fetterman, 37 of Tequesta, general counsel to St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara and also president of the Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County, is going up against Bill Ramos, 49, a Jensen Beach mortgage broker who received almost 46 percent of the vote when he ran for the office in 2006.

Foe faces fight vs. Klein’s darling image

When Ron Klein was elected to Congress in November 2006 after defeating a 13-term incumbent, his top priority was ending the war in Iraq and working on bipartisan solutions to a host of issues including Florida’s high cost of homeowners’ insurance.

Valeche ads slam rival Rooney in congressional race

Republican Hal Valeche on Tuesday became the first candidate to go negative in the hotly contested three-way GOP primary for the seat of Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, unveiling television and radio spots that blast rival Tom Rooney as “the wrong kind of Republican.”

EDITORIAL: State legislative races Caldwell, Jimenez rise above legislature

Action is low-key in Florida Legislature contests on the ballot for Aug. 26, for which early voting starts Monday.

Real estate bust cost to Florida: $153B

Florida’s tailspinning real estate industry is in a market correction, with all properties declining by an unprecedented 6 percent in total value statewide.

The bursting of the Florida real-estate bubble now has a price tag: $153 billion.

Fiscal eclipse?

Projections underscore need for revenue reform

On the bright side of a gloomy economic picture, one might posit that the Sunshine State has been through ups and downs before and emerged with steady, sometimes robust revenue streams to support an array of public services.

Martinez: Right deal on air tanker comes first

Senator says Florida jobs are important but should not swing new tanker contract

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said that he can’t back a coveted fuel tanker contract going to Mobile simply because he represents its neighbor state.

Miami mayor goes national

Appearing before the national press in Washington, D.C., Miami Mayor Manny Diaz made a plea for more federal attention for cities.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz made his national debut as the new president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Monday, telling a crowd that the federal government has ”abandoned” the nation’s cities.

Louisiana Citizens Rate Increase Delayed

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policyholders won’t see planned rate increases for at least two months because the agency can’t get a quorum on its board to approve the measure.

Mississippi Attorney General Settles with State Farm

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced the settlement of the state’s breach of contract suit against State Farm. Hood said the suit was filed after State Farm refused to comply with a January 2007 Hinds County Chancery Court settlement.

Bill spurs privacy concern

Pay-as-you-drive insurance spurs Big Brother fears

Question: How do environmentalists get motorists to drive less in order to combat global warming? Answer: Team up with the insurance industry and the Legislature to create a pay-as-you-drive insurance policy. And tell drivers they’ll save money if they sign up.

A Call For Flood Program Privatization

The National Flood Insurance Program should effectively be privatized, a think-tank analyst argues in a new study paper.

AIA, NAIC Face Off Over State Vs. Federal Regulation

Whether federal authorities’ failure to foresee and head off the subprime mortgage crisis is evidence Washington should not be trusted with insurance oversight was a focus of contention here yesterday in a face-off between the nation’s top state regulator and an industry association leader.

RIMS Survey: Premium Price Drop Continuing

Average premiums for all major commercial lines of insurance continued to fall in the second quarter, according to the RIMS Benchmark Survey released today.

Best Makes Results of Car-Insurance Buyer Survey Available

In a new service A.M. Best is providing consumers with a way to learn which companies scored highest in consumer satisfaction among new car insurance buyers.

South Carolina Governor Backs off Workers’ Comp Payment Limit Fight

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford backed away from efforts to force the state Workers’ Compensation Commission to accept new injury payment standards, accepting a settlement agreement that would end months of legal wrangling if South Carolina’s highest court approves the deal.

COMMENTARY:  N.Y. Requires Showing of Prejudice Before Insurers Disclaim for Late Notice

The New York Legislature passed a bill that will impact the state’s insurance laws by requiring a showing of prejudice before insurers can disclaim coverage for late notice. Gov. David Paterson signed the bill into law on July 21.

Ohio Businesses File Suit on Workers’ Comp Rate-Setting System

Ohio businesses concerned about the cost of state workers’ compensation insurance for injured workers are trying to force a change in the way premiums are set for employers.

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